What is an asbestos management plan?
An asbestos management plan is a document that records how asbestos and asbestos-containing materials (ACMs) in a workplace will be managed to minimise health risks. Under Australian work health and safety legislation, it is a legal requirement for workplaces where asbestos has been identified or is likely to be present.
Think of it as your operational playbook for asbestos. The register tells you what you have and where it is. The management plan tells you what you're going to do about it.
Who needs one?
Under the model Work Health and Safety (WHS) Regulations, a person conducting a business or undertaking (PCBU) who manages or controls a workplace must prepare an asbestos management plan if asbestos or ACMs are identified, or assumed to be present, at the workplace. This applies to commercial buildings, industrial sites, schools, hospitals, and other workplaces.
If you're a facility manager, building owner, or property manager responsible for a workplace built before 2000, you almost certainly need one. Even if a survey has not yet been done, the regulations require you to assume asbestos is present in buildings from this era unless a competent person has confirmed otherwise.
Management plan vs. asbestos register
These two documents are related but serve different purposes, and you need both.
The asbestos register is an inventory. It records the location, type, condition, and accessibility of all identified or assumed ACMs in the workplace. It answers the question: "What asbestos do we have and where is it?" For a deeper look at what belongs in a register and how to maintain one, see our guide on what goes into an asbestos register.
The asbestos management plan builds on the register and sets out the actions you'll take. It answers: "What are we going to do about it and who is responsible?" The plan references the register but goes further by documenting decisions, procedures, schedules, and responsibilities.
You can't have a meaningful management plan without a register, and a register on its own doesn't meet your full legal obligations.
What must it include?
The WHS Regulations (specifically Regulations 429 to 432) set out what an asbestos management plan must cover. In practical terms, a compliant plan will include:
- Identification records: A copy of (or reference to) the asbestos register, including the location, type, and condition of all known or assumed ACMs.
- Risk assessments: An assessment of the risk posed by each identified ACM, based on its condition, friability, accessibility, and likelihood of disturbance. Many plans use a risk matrix or priority scoring system to rank materials.
- Decisions and reasons for management: For each ACM, a documented decision on whether to leave in place and monitor, encapsulate, seal, or remove. The reasoning behind each decision should be recorded.
- Control measures: The specific steps you'll take to prevent exposure. This might include labelling, restricted access, encapsulation, or protective coatings. For materials left in place, it should describe how you'll prevent accidental disturbance.
- Procedures for incidents and emergencies: What to do if ACMs are accidentally disturbed, damaged, or discovered during maintenance. This should include evacuation procedures, how to isolate the area, who to call, and how to report the incident to the regulator.
- Responsibilities: Named roles (not just job titles) for carrying out and overseeing the plan. This includes who authorises work near ACMs, who maintains the register, and who arranges inspections.
- Information, training, and induction: How you'll inform workers, contractors, and tenants about asbestos locations and safe work procedures. Anyone who could come into contact with ACMs needs appropriate awareness training.
- Review schedule: When and how the plan will be reviewed (covered in more detail below).
How often should it be reviewed?
The plan must be reviewed and updated whenever there is a change in circumstances. The regulations don't set a fixed review period, but the Model Code of Practice recommends reviewing at least every five years as a baseline. Most well-managed facilities do it annually.
Specific triggers for review include:
- Asbestos is removed from the workplace (update both the register and the plan).
- The condition of known ACMs has changed, for example following water damage, physical impact, or general deterioration.
- Control measures are found to be inadequate or have failed.
- Renovation, refurbishment, or demolition work is planned that may affect areas containing ACMs.
- A new asbestos survey identifies previously unknown ACMs.
- There's a change in building use, tenancy, or access arrangements that could affect exposure risk.
- An incident occurs involving actual or suspected asbestos disturbance.
- A health and safety representative requests a review.
After each review, record the date, what changed, and who carried it out. Keep previous versions on file so you have a clear audit trail.
Getting professional help
Many facility managers work with asbestos consultants to develop and maintain their management plans. A qualified consultant can conduct the initial survey, prepare the asbestos register, and draft a management plan that meets regulatory requirements. They can also carry out regular condition inspections and update the plan as needed.
When choosing a consultant, look for someone who holds a relevant licence or certification in your state or territory. Ask for sample reports and check that their work clearly documents all the elements required by the Code of Practice.
Sources
- Work Health and Safety Regulations 2011, Regulations 429–432 — Federal Register of Legislation
- Safe Work Australia — Model Code of Practice: How to Manage and Control Asbestos in the Workplace
- Safe Work Australia — Asbestos